Writers of Equestrian Fiction
Ride with us into a world of suspense, romance, comedy, and mystery -- Because life always looks better from the back of a horse!

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Finding the Inner Child

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have morphed into a thrifting, picking, crazed, treasure hunter feeding my booth in an antique mall. At the old age of 60, I have discovered a new passion, and I feel as if I am a little kid again. Yesterday, I was knee deep in a storage shed 'picking' old wooden school chairs and desks from an assortment of trash. I came home with a van full of dirty treasures including a 1960's radio in wonderful condition and a school desk and chair from the 1920s complete with hole for an inkwell. Then this morning, I woke at 5:30, too excited to sleep. Walked and fed the dogs and horses in below-freezing temps, piled into the van before my husband (and the sun) was up, and headed to an indoor yard sale.

My adrenalin was pumping as I hurried into the church hall. I'd never been to this particular venue and figured it would be filled with kids' clothes and old purses. But when I walked inside, the first thing I spied was BREYER HORSES!

I galloped over to that table like my horse Relish races to his grain bucket. Right now, my booth does not have a horse 'section' but I have been slowly collecting an interesting array of horse stuff to create a nice display. I have vintage Thelwell books, hunt scene place mats, a needlepoint hunt pillow and a brass horse towel holder (don't ask.) But I was missing Breyer. My own collection suffers from chipped ears and broken legs (from hard riding) and I really didn't want to part with them. So finding Breyers with good prices was a treat. The problem? My heart took over my brain.

I wisely picked three horses still in boxes as well as a bag of miniatures (I knew not all were Breyer in the bag, which was okay because they were all cute.) I unwisely did not check the name of the horse on the box with the horse inside the box until I got them home. Um. Snookered.
I have the horses, and I have the boxes, but they don't match. And really, I am happy with the price, and as my husband said "It was a ten dollar mistake, so who cares" but oh how I wish I had kept my head and scrutinized each horse and box. If I'm going to be 'good' at this business of thrifting and picking, I have to make smart choices. Fortunately, I redeemed myself at the same yard sale with a Winnie the Pooh jewel box full of the complete set of Madame Alexander Wizard of Oz dolls (McDonald's happy meal prizes in 2007)that are absolutely adorable and worth four times what I paid. In the end, it did balance out.

So if anyone needs a box for Polo Pony No. 733. I've got one. And what in the world is "Bareback Riding Gift Set"? I couldn't find it online, so have no idea what should be in that box, but I know it's not the prancing pony I found. Or if someone wants to sell me polo pony 733 or Bareback Gift Set, let me know. Hey, let me know if you are ready to sell any of your horse statues, china horses, stuffed horses, Billy and Blaze books . . .you get the picture. I have a home--and love-- for them all!

Alison - I know you must have the same taste as me - I used to always have model horses, horse books and horse decor in my antique booth. Once a horselady, always a horselady. Ha! And how well I remember those early morning forays to the sales - looking for the best bargains. I think it's the hunter-gatherer inside us that enjoys finding those gems. I do have some old Billy and Blaze books, I think. I'll look through a bunch of old horse books and report what I have. I also have a collection of 1950's donkey figurines (and books.) Donkeys were such a popular motif back then!

Hey Dreaming--I LOVE depression glass, so if you're sick of dusting it, I'll pay well and pay for postage. Let me know. And Linda, I bet once you start looking at all your horse and donkey books and collectibles you won't want to part with even one. But if you do, email me! (I bet you still have booth stuff stashed in your attic. Am I right?)alisonatalisonhartbooksdotcom

I also am a collector of all things horse (among many other things). I have depression glass, too, in the "horseshoe" pattern (green, Indiana Glass Company No. 612). I have ceramic horse statues as well as "Trigger," complete with chain reins and the plastic western saddle. MANY horse books and prints (loved C. W. Anderson).

I too had a booth in an antique collective. Didn't put any of my horse items in it, though. Couldn't part with those. ;o)

That's a shame that the boxes didn't match the horses inside. But sounds like you had a fabulous time finding these treasures, and I am sure they are adorable and will attract the right customer. I just started collecting Breyers in my 50s...rediscovering my inner horse crazy girl.

Sorry - you can't have mine. I'm keeping them, which is kind of sad because I have only one child, a son who (darling though he is) does not share my love for my tchotchkes. I have two Breyer horses from my youth, a couple of little ceramic ponies, and very old hardcopies of Black Beauty and The Black Stallion's Filly. I guess I can leave them to you in my will...

I have the Polo Pony and would love the box! When I was a child I kept all the old boxes because I liked the pictures on them. At one point a basement flooded and while the horses were fine (yay bubble wrap) I had to throw away all the moldy cardboard boxes. From the 70's, some of them.

So, can it fold up? How do I send you postage and address, if you are willing?

Hi. I'm Debby, a long distance friend of Mikey's. I was wondering if you would like to take part in a virtual bridal shower for Mikey? It's easy enough. Just put together a picture and/or a post toasting Mikey and Wade on your blog, or mail them to me if you don't have a blog, and I will post either the link or your wishes on my blog on March 11th. Make them funny or serious. Raise a virtual glass in honor of the wedding of the year! If you know anyone else that wants to be added to the list, please feel free to hand out my e-mail.

If you don't wish to put anything together, please just stop by my blog anyway to leave your best wishes in the comment section!

Hi Greenie in WI--sorry it took me so long to get back to you and I hope you check comments again. Send me an email at alisonatalisonhartbooksdotcom (or you can find the email on my website www.alisonhartbooks.com and we'll get together with address and details. I'd love to get the box to the horse!

Barnstorming--Laura Crum

A trail rider's nightmare becomes reality when horse vet Gail McCarthy faces murder on the trail and must hunt down the killer before she becomes the next victim.

Francesca Prescott--Mucho Caliente

Francesca Prescott lives in Switzerland and spent her childhood longing for a pony. With riding lessons only available to children over the age of twelve, Francesca spent years practicing her rising trot on the back ledge of the sofa, galloping imaginary horses all over the neighborhood, and scribbling pony stories. As an adolescent, a move to the countryside and an encounter with a pony-owning farmer finally made regular riding a reality. Decades later, she’s a dressage enthusiast and the proud owner of Qrac, a 9 year-old Lusitano. Her novel, “Mucho Caliente! - Wish upon a Latino Superstar”, a romantic comedy set in Ibiza, is available from Amazon.com.

Jami Davenport--The Gift Horse

City boy Carson receives a temperamental gift horse complete with strings attached: transform a run-down horse farm into a showplace and a disorganized horse trainer bent on self-sabotage into a winner. His horse trainer has her own agenda, one that puts her life and his heart on the line.

Gayle Carline--From The Horse's Mouth: One Lucky Memoir

A young horse tells his story of becoming a champion, suffering an injury, and fighting to return to the show arena to prove he's the same horse he always was, only different.

Alison Hart

The exciting sequel to the Edgar-nominated Shadow Horse, Whirlwind answers readers' questions: what happened to Whirlwind? Will Hugh get caught and punished for his crimes? Does Jas ever find her beloved horse? Do Chase and Jas ever admit they like each other?

Turning For Home - Natalie Keller Reinert

Every racehorse must retire one day, and for Tiger, that day has come. Alex isn't ready to retire her friend, but when an animal rights group accuses her of horse abuse, she and Tiger find they have more to prove than that they can win races.